Animal collar

ABSTRACT

A collar for an animal includes an elongate piece of flexible material having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends configured to be releasably coupled together about the neck of an animal. The collar also includes a lighting system coupled to the piece of material. The lighting system includes a power source and an optical element coupled to the power source. The optical element is at least partially embedded within the piece of material and extends along a length direction between the first and second ends. The optical element further includes an LED that is configured to illuminate a portion of the optical element when the power source is turned on.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/725,970, filed May 29, 2015, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/031,928, filed Aug. 1, 2014, and to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/006,599, filed Jun. 2, 2014, the entirecontents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collar for an animal, in particularfor a dog.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Collars are commonly used on dogs. Dog collars typically include a tagattached to the collar or a name written on the collar to identify thedog, as well as a metal loop for attachment of a leash. Most dog collarsalso typically include a snap or buckle that fastens two ends of thecollar about the neck.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one construction, a collar for an animal includes anelongate piece of flexible material having a first end and a second end,the first and second ends configured to be releasably coupled togetherabout the neck of an animal. The collar also includes a lighting systemcoupled to the piece of material. The lighting system includes a powersource and an optical element coupled to the power source. The opticalelement is at least partially embedded within the piece of material andextends along a length direction between the first and second ends. Theoptical element further includes an LED that is configured to illuminatea portion of the optical element when the power source is turned on.

In accordance with another construction, a collar for an animal includesan elongate piece of flexible material having a first end and a secondend, the first and second ends configured to be releasably coupledtogether about the neck of an animal. The collar also includes alighting system coupled to the piece of material, the lighting systemincluding a power source coupled to the piece of material and an opticalelement coupled to the power source that is configured to be illuminatedby the power source. The piece of material includes bands of differentcolors along an outer face, the outer face being a side of the collarthat is exposed when the collar is worn. The bands of different colorsinclude a first outer band of a first color, a second outer band ofsecond color, and a third, inner band of a third color, the third colorbeing lighter than the first and second colors. The third band isdisposed adjacent the optical element.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collar according to one construction,shown around a dog's neck.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collar of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the collar of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial, disassembled view of the collar of FIG. 1illustrating a power button on a battery housing of the collar.

FIG. 5 is a partial, disassembled view of the collar of FIG. 1illustrating a printed circuit board within the battery housing.

FIG. 6 is a partial, disassembled view of the collar of FIG. 1,illustrating a full length of an optical element 66 of the collar.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a collar according to anotherconstruction, shown around a dog's neck.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the collar of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the collar of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the collar of FIG. 7 shown around adog's neck, illustrating a different battery housing.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the battery housing of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the battery housing of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a back view of the battery housing of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a portion of a collar according to anotherconstruction.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the collar of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the collar of FIG. 14.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limited.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-16 illustrate a collar 10. While the collar 10 is illustrated inthe context of a dog collar, the collar 10 may be used on various otheranimals, including cats or other pets.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the collar 10 includes an elongate piece ofmaterial 14 having a first end 18 and a second end 22. The illustratedpiece of material 14 is a flexible, woven fabric. Other constructionsuse different materials (e.g., plastic) for the piece of material 14.

The collar 10 includes a first buckle portion 26 coupled to the firstend 18 and a second buckle portion 30 coupled to the second end 22. Thefirst buckle portion 26 is a female mating component, and the secondbuckle portion 30 is a male mating component that includes prongs 34that releasably engage the first buckle portion 26 to couple the firstand second ends 18, 22 together about the dog's neck (FIG. 1). Otherconstructions include different structures (e.g., snaps) for releasablycoupling the first and second ends 18, 22 together.

The collar 10 also includes an adjustment mechanism 38 coupled to thepiece of material 14. The illustrated adjustment mechanism 38 is a clipthrough which the piece of material 14 passes that allows a user toadjust an overall length of the collar 10. Other constructions includedifferent types of adjustment mechanisms 38 (e.g., different types andsizes of clips than that illustrated). In some constructions noadjustment mechanism 38 is provided, such that the length of the collar10 is fixed.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the collar 10 includes a lighting system 42that emits light from the collar 10. The lighting system 10 includes apower source 46. In the illustrated construction the power source 46includes a battery housing 50 with a cover 54 and a single battery 56(FIG. 5) disposed within the battery housing 50. The illustrated batteryhousing 50 is generally oval in size and shape, and has a width 58 (FIG.3) that is approximately equal to (e.g., slightly larger than) a width62 of the piece of material 14. In some constructions a portion orportions of the battery housing 50 are coupled to the piece of material14 (e.g., with adhesive). Other constructions include different sizesand shapes for the battery housing 50. In a preferred construction, asingle battery 56 is disposed in the battery housing 50 and is a commonbutton cell battery, such as that used in watches (e.g., a 1-3 Volt typebattery). The single battery 56 by itself advantageously providessufficient power for the lighting system 42, without the need formultiple batteries, although other constructions include differentnumbers and types of batteries.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4-6, the lighting system 42 furtherincludes an optical element 66 which includes at least onelight-emitting diode (“LED”) 68 (FIG. 6) disposed (e.g., embedded)therein. The illustrated optical element 66 is an elongate clear plasticstrip or tubular element having a width 70 (FIG. 6) that is smaller thanthe width 62 (FIG. 3) of the piece of material 14. The optical element66, including the LED 68, is coupled to a printed circuit board 74 (FIG.5) of the power source 46 via wires 78. The optical element 66 hasoptical properties that internally reflect and/or refract light alongthe optical element 66, even when the optical element 66 is bent orcurved. The illustrated optical element 66 is semi-perfect and allowslight to escape. The optical element 66 is embedded into the piece ofmaterial 14, so that the optical element 66 is partially or entirelyhidden within the piece of material 14, and emits light through openings82 (FIG. 5) in the woven material of the piece of material 14. To embedthe optical element 66, a portion of the piece of material 14 is cut, orslit, at a location 84 (FIGS. 5 and 6) along the piece of material 14,and the optical element 66 is slid behind the portion of the piece ofmaterial 14 (e.g. between two strips of woven fabric that form the pieceof material 14). Other constructions include different arrangements ormethods of embedding the optical element 66. In some constructions theoptical element 66 is a fiber optic cable with small openings to allowthe light to escape. In some constructions the optical element 66 is alight pipe.

With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the optical element 66 extends lengthwisealong the piece of material 14 between the first and second ends 18, 22.The LED 68 directs light along this lengthwise direction. The opticalelement 66 extends approximately half of a length 86 (FIG. 3) of thepiece of material 14, so that during use when the collar 10 is coupledto the neck of an animal, the optical element 66 extends approximately180 degrees around the animal's neck, in a front-facing region of theneck below the animal's jaw. Of course, other constructions may includeoptical elements 66 that extend completely around the collar or thatextend different lengths than illustrated and described herein. Inaddition, some constructions may include optical elements that includedark regions that provide a broken light effect with two or moreseparated light strips.

The optical element 66 provides light through use of one, or more thanone, LED 68 within the optical element 66. In preferred constructions asingle LED 68 is used to emit light through the optical element 66. Theuse of a single LED 68 requires little battery power, thereby allowing asingle battery to provide the necessary power. The light emitted fromthe LED 68 or LEDs 68 travels along the optical element 66 in acircumferential direction around the dog's neck, lighting up a portionof the collar 10 and emitting light away from the dog's neck. The use ofan LED 68, coupled with the optical element 66, provides excellent lightdispersion/bending around the collar 10 and low electrical cost. Thisprovides both a uniform band of light as well as reduced battery drain.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 and 6, the lighting system 42 also includesa power button 90 that activates and deactivates the optical element 66(e.g., activates and deactivates the LED 68 within the optical element66). The power button 90 is a push-button disposed generally in a centerof the cover 54, opposite the printed circuit board 74 and wires 70. Inuse, when the power button 90 is pressed a first time the opticalelement 66 illuminates. When the power button 90 is pressed a secondtime the optical element 66 turns off. Other constructions include othertypes and locations for the power button 90, as well as other processesor steps for activating and deactivating the optical element 66. In someconstructions, the collar 10 includes a remote sensor that detectsactivation from a remote control to allow remote activation of theoptical element 66. RF, IR or other suitable remote control schemes arepossible. In still other constructions, the collar 10 is formed inconjunction with a shock or training collar to allow remote activationusing the same remote control as is used for training purposes. In someconstructions the collar 10 includes a light sensor that activates theoptical element 66 in the collar 10 when ambient light drops below apredefined intensity.

With reference to FIGS. 7-9, in some constructions the piece of material14 includes a transparent (e.g., fully transparent or semi-transparent)strip 100. The optical element 66 is embedded within the piece ofmaterial 14 behind or underneath the strip 100, so that light emittedfrom the optical element 66 passes through the strip 100. In theillustrated construction the strip 100 is a woven plastic stripsurrounded by woven fabric. The strip 100 provides added lighttransmission capability to the collar 10, thereby further reducing thebattery power required and/or increasing the intensity of the lightemitted from the collar 10.

With reference to FIG. 7, the strip 100 extends approximately half ofthe length 86 of the piece of material 14, so that during use when thecollar 10 is coupled to the neck of an animal, both the strip 100 andthe optical element 66 underneath the strip 100 extend approximately 180degrees around the animal's neck, in a front-facing region of the neckbelow the animal's jaw. With reference to FIG. 9, the strip 100 also hasa width 104 substantially equivalent to the width 70 (FIG. 6) of theoptical element 66. Other constructions include different shapes andsizes for the strip 100.

With reference to FIGS. 10-13, in some constructions the collar 10includes a back portion 106 (FIGS. 11 and 13) that at least partiallycovers the piece of material 14 behind the battery housing 50, such thatthe piece of material 14 passes between the battery housing 50 and theback portion 106. The illustrated back portion 106 is a separate pieceof material coupled to the piece of material 14 (e.g., with adhesive).In some constructions the back portion 106 is coupled to the batteryhousing 50 without being fixedly attached to the piece of material 14.In some constructions the back portion 106 is integrally formed as onepiece with at least a portion of the battery housing 50. In someconstructions the back portion 106 is coupled to the battery housing 50with fasteners or other structures, or is coupled to the piece ofmaterial 14 via a friction fit.

With reference to FIGS. 14-16, in some constructions the elongate pieceof material 14 includes bands 110 of different color along an outer face114 of the collar, the outer face 114 being a side of the collar 10 thatis exposed when the collar 10 is worn. For example, and with referenceto FIG. 14, in some constructions the elongate piece of material 14includes a first outer band 118 of dark color (e.g., dark green, black,etc.), a second outer band 122 of dark color (e.g., dark green, black,etc.), and a third inner band 126 of lighter or moderate color (e.g.,light yellow, yellow, light orange, orange, etc.) disposed between thefirst and second bands 118, 122. Of course, other constructions includevarious other colors, darknesses of colors, numbers of bands, andarrangements of bands 110, to provide different aesthetics to the outerface 114. In some constructions the collar 10 includes just a singleband 126 (e.g., light colored) extending across the entire collar 10.

With reference to FIG. 15, in the illustrated construction the third,light-colored band 126 is disposed directly above and adjacent theembedded optical element 66. The elongate piece of material 14 alsoincludes an inner face 130, which in conjunction with the outer face114, embeds the optical element 66.

With reference to FIG. 16, the outer face 114 is comprised of variouslayers and types of fabric (e.g., thread, yarn, fiber, etc.). Inparticular, the outer face 114 includes a first type of fabric 134(e.g., a dark green fabric) that is used for the first and second bands118, 122. The outer face 114 also includes a second type of fabric 138(e.g., a light yellow fabric, etc.) that is used for the third band 126.The first and second types of fabric 134, 138 are woven or otherwiseformed generally vertically (i.e., along an elongated length of thecollar 10) as shown in FIG. 16.

The outer face 114 also includes a third type of fabric 142 that isdisposed beneath the first and second types of fabric 134, 138. Thethird type of fabric 142 is woven or otherwise formed generallyhorizontally (i.e., along a width of the collar 10), in a directiontransverse to the first and second types of fabric 134, 138. In theillustrated construction the third type of fabric 142 is a clear plasticthread. The clear plastic thread facilitates transmission of light fromthe embedded optical element 66 into and through the third band 126. Inother constructions the third type of fabric 142 is a white or othervery light colored fabric, or any other type of fabric that facilitatestransmission of light. The use of the third type of fabric 142facilitates transmission of light through various colors of fabrics, yetstill permits darker fabrics (e.g., dark green, black, etc.) to be usedfor the outer first and second bands 118, 122.

In some constructions the inner face 136 also has the same constructionof layers, bands, and fabrics as the outer face 114 described above,such that the collar may be switched and worn inside out with the samecapability to transmit light.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the inventionas described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable, light-emitting device comprising: anelongate piece of flexible, fabric material having a first end and asecond end, the first and second ends configured to be releasablycoupled together about a portion of a body; and a lighting systemcoupled to the piece of material, the lighting system including a powersource and a flexible optical element coupled to the power source,wherein the optical element is at least partially embedded within thepiece of material and extends along a length direction between the firstand second ends, wherein the optical element is configured to emit lightthrough openings in the piece of material, and has optical propertiesthat both reflect and refract light, wherein the piece of material isformed from woven fabric.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the piece ofmaterial includes bands of different colors along an outer face, theouter face being a side of the device that is exposed when the device isworn, wherein the bands of different colors include a first outer bandof a first color, a second outer band of second color, and a third,inner band of a third color, the third color being lighter than thefirst and second colors.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the powersource includes a battery housing coupled to the piece of material. 4.The device of claim 3, wherein the power source includes a circuit boarddisposed within the battery housing and wiring extending from thecircuit board, wherein the wiring couples the circuit board to theoptical element.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the lighting systemincludes a power button disposed on the battery housing that whenpressed activates and illuminates the optical element.
 6. The device ofclaim 3, wherein the power source includes only a single batterydisposed within the battery housing.
 7. The device of claim 1, whereinthe optical element includes an elongate clear plastic strip.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the optical element has a width that issmaller than a width of the piece of material.
 9. The device of claim 1,wherein the piece of material includes two strips of woven fabric,wherein one of the two strips includes a first, second, and third bandof color, and wherein at least a portion of the optical element isdisposed between the two strips of woven fabric.
 10. The device of claim1, wherein the optical element extends approximately half of a length ofthe piece of material, so that when the device is coupled to a portionof a body, the optical element extends approximately 180 degrees aroundthe portion of the body.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the piece ofmaterial includes a transparent strip, and wherein the optical elementis disposed directly below the transparent strip.
 12. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the transparent strip has a width that issubstantially equivalent to a width of the optical element.
 13. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the piece of material includes bands ofdifferent fabric material.
 14. A wearable, light-emitting devicecomprising: an elongate piece of flexible, fabric material having afirst end and a second end, the first and second ends configured to bereleasably coupled together about a portion of a body; and a lightingsystem coupled to the piece of material, the lighting system including ahousing, a power source disposed within the housing, and a flexibleoptical element coupled to the power source, wherein the optical elementis at least partially embedded within the piece of material and extendsalong a length direction between the first and second ends, wherein theoptical element is configured to emit light through openings in thepiece of material, and wherein the piece of material extends through anopening in the housing, wherein the piece of material is formed fromwoven fabric.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the piece of materialincludes bands of different colors along an outer face, the outer facebeing a side of the device that is exposed when the device is worn,wherein the bands of different colors include a first outer band of afirst color, a second outer band of second color, and a third, innerband of a third color, the third color being lighter than the first andsecond colors.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the housing is abattery housing.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the power sourceincludes a circuit board disposed within the battery housing and wiringextending from the circuit board, wherein the wiring couples the circuitboard to the optical element.
 18. A wearable, light-emitting devicecomprising: an elongate piece of flexible, fabric material having afirst end and a second end, the first and second ends configured to bereleasably coupled together about a portion of a body; and a lightingsystem coupled to the piece of material, the lighting system including apower source and a flexible optical element coupled to the power source,wherein the optical element is at least partially embedded within thepiece of material and extends along a length direction between the firstand second ends, wherein the optical element is configured to emit lightthrough openings in the piece of material, and has optical propertiesthat both reflect and refract light, wherein the optical elementincludes an elongate clear plastic strip.